Chelsea

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso on the Premier League and whether Arsenal is above the rest: "It is too early to say. For sure Arsenal and Man City have won all their games so far but there is still so many games. I knew but once you live it, you realise how tough it is each game, how tough it is to win. You can't take for granted any game. You need to give your best level because you get punished when you are not. We have experienced that but I think there will be good moments for all the teams and bad moments for all the teams."

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Chelsea

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso on the extended international break: "It is what it is so I try not to get frustrated with things that are out of my hands so I can't control them so we have already spent some time together and we will have more time to spend together. There is no Christmas break here [in the Premier League] so we will be here together at Christmas as well. There will be plenty of games, so we have taken some steps forward and many more to take forward."

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Chelsea

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso on Moises Caicedo in the international break: "I don't know if he is in the squad for Ecuador but I am focused on when he can play for us, with Moises and that is my concern. The other things, I don't control.

"It is international duties, sometimes you can't control them so we will see what happens."

Chelsea

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso on facing Keith Andrews when they were both players: "Good old days. I remember enjoying playing against Blackburn, the few times that we had to play there. Most of them are good memories from my playing days in the Premier League."

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Chelsea

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso on how he has set his team up to combat Brentford's set pieces, long throws and fast transitions: "Yes they do that very well but not just that. They do other things, not just the transition, not just the set-pieces.

"I think it is a team, a club that has developed the project and the game very well. They are very complete in many aspects, with or without the ball. And playing there, you see the numbers, they have great strength playing at home so it is going to be a big challenge. I saw the game from last year, you learn everything and tomorrow is going to be a big test for us."

Chelsea

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso on balance and Moises Caicedo's presence: "Moises is one of the top midfielders in the world. And for sure anything with him in the middle is a better team and we are aware of that. But at this moment we will see tomorrow.

"He has not been able to play so we have had to cope with that situation and when he will play, we will benefit from his qualities, his balance, his presence. I think that he is very inspirational for the players and they are looking forward to it."

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Chelsea

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso on Joao Pedro missing another opportunity with Brazil after he was left out of the World Cup squad: "He has moved on from the summer, from the World Cup. He has this strong desire, determination to have a great season so far. So the summer is far away now.

"He will be in the future for sure [selected for Brazil]. I am pretty sure that he is going to be."

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Chelsea

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso on his defensive changes: "The defence is all the team it is not just the back four or the back five whatever. It is about the team, it is how we compete, how we adapt to the different moments when we take the lead or when the game is even.

"We need to have the same mentality to be competing in different moments. We know that the Premier League is very difficult to control the whole game. But, to be able to adapt, to feel that you have the awareness that is needed, it is very important for sure.

"I've had four or five weeks since we started, this is going to be the seventh game in this block. It is an important one because it is before the international break, because it is Premier League, because it is away against Brentford.

"It's always tough so we will have to play with a high demand game."

Chelsea

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso on Marco Palestra and Jordan Henderson: "Tomorrow, final decision. Sorry I am repeating, but your questions are the same.

"The players know everything we need to assess, all the decisions with the last training and tomorrow we will take the decisions for the game at Brentford."

Chelsea

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso on Reece James not being involved in training on Tuesday: "It was just a decision for Tuesday. We will see his development and tomorrow we will decide."

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Chelsea

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso on Moises Caicedo: "He is getting closer and tomorrow we will take the final decision in the team and in the squad that is coming to Brentford."

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Chelsea

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso on Joao Pedro: "In terms of injuries and in terms of the squad, we are having the last training session tomorrow so no one is ruled out for us for Friday so I prefer to be cautious and we will be waiting until tomorrow to make the final decision on every player."

On can he confirm the injury: "No"

On whether he can play against Brentford but not for Brazil in the international break: "It is a possibility."

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Chelsea

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso on how confident he is that his side will return to challenging for major trophies: "That is why we are here. To work to get into that position, knowing that the competition that we have but for sure the ambition of the club, the potential of the club, the dimensions of the players, of where we are. We know where we want to be. We know everything takes time but the ambition for that is very clear."

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Chelsea

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso on the change in ownership at the club: "I think it is an important day for the club when there is an important change in the structure of the club, new ownership.

"Thanks to the former owners for what they have done. I was not here but I know that they played an important role. And now that Behdad [Eghbali] is taking more control, or almost full control, I think it is good that the main one is clear.

"I have a very good relationship with Behdad; he was the one who came to Madrid to explain the project to convince me and we are working well together. As I have mentioned, this is phase one we have completed in project of the squad. It is good and now we move on together."

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Chelsea

Xabi Alonso says it is a "possibility" that Jordan Henderson could make his Chelsea debut tomorrow, against Brentford - the club he moved to Stamford Bridge from in the summer.

Henderson has been unavailable since breaking his wrist attempting to vault an advertising board following England's win over Mexico at the World Cup.

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Chelsea

Asked about Joao Pedro, who has pulled out of the Brazil squad with injury, Alonso says no one has been unavailable from first team training this week.

He declines to say what sort of injury Pedro has.

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Chelsea

Xabi is here!

We will bring you what he has to say shortly...

Chelsea

The Blues made a strong start under new manager Xabi Alonso, winning their first two Premier League matches. However they have faltered this month, losing at Arsenal then drawing at home to Hull on Saturday.

Chelsea are sixth in the very early Premier League table, with seven points from four games.

They have also reached round four of the League Cup, thanks to a bonkers 6-3 win over Leeds last week. Last night's draw has paired the Blues with Liverpool in what should be a fascinating tie at Anfield in late October.